Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby has joined Hamburg on a season-long loan deal

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby has joined Bundesliga side Hamburg on a season-long loan deal.

Holtby, 23, joined Spurs from Schalke in January 2013 but was never able to establish himself as a first-team regular at White Hart Lane and ended last season on loan at Fulham.

The Erkelenz-born playmaker initially agreed to join Spurs on a pre-contract agreement in January 2013, before moving during the window in a deal worth £1.5m.

After making 11 Premier League appearances during his first five months at White Hart Lane, Holtby made a further 13 league outings for Spurs during the 2013/14 season but joined Fulham on loan for the second half of the campaign.

Holtby scored once in 11 appearances for the Cottagers and was unable to save Felix Magath's side from relegation to the Championship.

Havinf returned to north London, Holtby was re-integrated into the squad during pre-season but has made just one Premier League outing from the bench so far this season.

Used more frequently in the Europa League, the German international made a total of 42 appearances and scored three goals for Spurs in 20 months at White Hart Lane.